title: Primary cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma. Case series 1991-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Merkel cell carcinoma was first described by Toker in 1972. It is an uncommon, primary neuroendocrine skin carcinoma which appears in the dermoepidermic area, grows fast, is very aggressive and has a poor prognosis. The aim of this work is to highlight the importance of this tumour, which develops mainly in the skin of the head and neck area, and whose prevalence has increased in recent years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We gathered data on 16 patients suffering cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma treated at our hospital between September 12, 1991 and July 13, 2012. We indicated the age and gender of patients. We described the area where the tumour was located, indicating the size in millimetres, according to the major axis of the lesion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the patients studied were over 70 years old, except for one who was 55. The highest frequency of cases appeared among patients aged over 80 years. In the cases studied, when the tumour appeared in the head and neck region (10/16), its location could be nasal-lateronasal, cheek-malar, upper eyelid, frontal or mandibular. The major axis of the lesion ranged between 7 and 35 mm. Unlike with epidermoid or basocellular carcinomas, recurrence and ganglionar metastases were common. Immunohistochemical (CK20) tests are essential for a correct diagnosis. Treatment is usually surgical and occasionally followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This carcinoma is not a very common skin tumour. It appears in old age, in the head and neck region in 50% of cases and often leads to exitus.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía Plástica, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Universidad de Valladolid, Valladolid, España.
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Campillo
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gil-Carcedo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oñate
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gil-Carcedo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015266:Carcinoma, Merkel Cell / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Anciano; Carcinoma; Cirugía; Immunohistochemistry; Inmunohistoquímica; Neuroendocrine; Neuroendocrino; Old age; Piel; Radiochemotherapy; Radioquimioterapia; Skin; Surgery